Recently I have been reading a number of 2007 titles of interest to elementary librarians.

Joe on the Go by Peggy Anderson (Houghton) recounts every child’s fear-no one has time for him. A reassuring ending makes this a great early reader.

For children who prefer true stories, Vinnie and Abraham by Dawn Fitzgerald (Charlesbridge) shows that fairy tales can come true. Young Vinnie Ream’s dreams of becoming a sculptor are realized and she, at a very early age and without formal training, is selected to create the sculpture of President Lincoln for the Capitol rotunda. Author’s note and list of resources thoughtfully appended.

For an enthusiastic romp through the barnyard from the title page to the end, try Janice Harrington’s The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County (FSG). Glorious collages leap from the pages and complement the text beautifully.

Children will recognize the elements of the Red Riding Hood story as Niki Daly unfolds his dramatic Pretty Salma (Clarion). This imaginative retelling hooks readers from the endpapers and introduces stunning cultural details.

The best cover of the spring goes to Jerry Spinelli’s Eggs (Little,Brown). This story of two lost (emotionally not physically) kids will grip readers. Deep feelings spill from the pages as these two try to figure out who they are.

On my night table at the moment is the much-heralded The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.